Intermittent-grip device for manure-spreaders and the like.



R. sHEDENHELM. INTERMITTENT GRIP DEVICE FOR MANURE SPREADERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1908.

1,170,005. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. SHEDENHELM. INTERIVIITTENT GRIP DEVICE FOR MANURE SPREADERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY II, I908.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- THE COLUMBIA PMNOURAPH CO" WASHINGTON, D- C.

witnesses onrr STAES T FTQE.

ROBERT SHEDENI-IELM, F. Labor-tn, Iowa, ass-lemon, BY M sNE-AssIGNM-ENTs, or six-mmnsro.nit ream AND FOUR-TENTHS TO H. s. BUTLER.

INTE MITTENT-GRIP: DEvifoE-Fon; MANURE-SPREADERS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Applicationfiled Mayell, 1908. Seria1.No.4.32',098.

To all whom it mayroncern Be it known, that I, =ROBERT- SHEDENHELM; a citizen of the United States,=res1d1ng,at-

Ladora, in the county of Iowa'andState of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Intermittent-Grip Device for Manuree'spread ers and the like, of which,thefollowingeisca specification.

The object of my invention is to-qprovidean intermittent grip device. for manure spreaders and the like of s1mple,..durable and inexpensive construction,- in which. the

wagon bed is? so' arranged that astheuload settles and moves rea-rwardlvwfih the apron, it will not bind upon the sides zof tlie wagon bed.

A further object, is I toprovide' impiiev'ed' means for regulating the speedfiof the apron, to S1111; the reqnirementsyand for; throwing,

the apron intoior out ofgear;

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination ofs-the 'varr ous parts of the device, whereby' the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out 1n-;1ny-

claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ln'Wl1lCl1' Figure 1 shows aside elevation of the device embodying my invention. Fig.2 shows a side elevation of the rear end of machine. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detaiIside vieiv illustrating the sprocket wheel 1 on] the rear axle, and the means for throwing it into and out of gear, and Fig. t'shows an en larged detail sectional view taken on the hne 55 of Fig. 2-.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference: numeral to m.-

dicate the body portion of theewa-gon'b'ed;

The rear end portion of the-wagon bed' is end ofthe wagon-bed-is a-shaft 13-l1avin-g sprocket wheels 14 thereof, and at the rear end is a shaft 15 having sprocket wheels 16 thereon. An endless apron 17 of the ordinary kind is passed around these sprocket wheels.

Rotatably mounted upon the axle 11 is a large sprocket wheel 18, and fixed to the axle ll adjacent to the sprocket wheel 18: is-' a ratchetwhcel 19. Fixed to the sprocket wheel 18 is a' pin 20 having a lever 21 pivoted to it. Adjacent to the sprocket wheel 18 is a. pawl 22, which has one end pivoted tothe lever 21, and is designed toengage the ratchet wheel 19. On the lever 21 is a lug22 arranged to engagethe pawl 22'- and to prevent the pawl 22 and the lever 21 from breaking upwardly at their pivotah point when. they are substantially in-line with each other. Aspring 23 is providedfor normally holding the pawl 22 in engagement with theratchet wheel 19. Obviously, when the pawl is in engagement with the: ratchet wheel, the sprocket wheel is rotated in- -unisonwith it, and when the pawl is-out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, the sprocket'wheel is'then out of gear.

Pivoted to the forward end of the wagon bed is a lever-24, and connected to the lever is" a rod slidingly mounted, and having its rear end soarranged that when the lever 24' is moved to its-rearward limit, the rear end of'the rod 25 w ill'be in thepath of the pawl 22-, between the point where the spring 23 is secured to said pawl and the point where said pawl is pivoted to the pawl 21, as shown by the dottedlines in Fig. 3 and thereby the pa-w'l will'be held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

I have provided for preventing arearward movement ofthe sprocket wheel 18 when the pawl is out of engagement withthe'ratchet wheel, as follows: 26 indicates a spring hook fixed to the side of thewagon" bed, and projected to its position whereit will engage the pin 20 to prevent backward movement of the sprocket wheel. In the form. of the invention shown in Fig; 1, I have "fiX-edto the shaft 15 of the apron, large ratchet wheel 27, and loosely'mou'nted upon the shaft 15 is a sprocket wheel-28. This sprocket wheel is connected by means of a chain 29 with the sprocket wheel 18 onthefdriving axle. I provideforoperating the ratchet wheel 27 as follows: Slidingly mounted'in-theguides-30 is a p'awl 31, to engage'the ratchet wheel 27. A spring 32 is connected to the said pawl, to normally hold it away from the ratchet wheel. Below the pawl 31 is a second similar pawl 33', slidingly mounted in guides 34:, and provided with a spring 35 to normally hold it away from the ratchet wheel 27. These pawls are actuated as follows: mounted between the pawls 31 and 30 is a lever 36, and fixed to each of the pawls is a metal strap 37 into which the lever is inserted. This strap is of such size that the lever may have a limited movement therein without moving the pawls, but when the lever strikes the end of either of the straps, it will force the pawl rearwardly, and thus actuate the ratchet wheel 27. The said lever is provided at its lower end with a pitman 38, adjustably pivoted to the lever, and connected to the sprocket wheel 28. In order to regulate the speed of the sprocket wheel 27 relative to that of the driving axle, I

provide a slide bar 39 arranged in the path.

of the pins 40 that are fixed to the pawls 31 and 33. This slide bar is connected with a rod 41, which rod has a limited sliding con nection with the lever Qet. Hence, by moving said slide bar 39 toward the rear of the wagon bed, the forward movement of the pawls is limited. Hence, said device may be so arranged that upon each movement of the lever 36, the pawls will move forwardly only one tooth space of the ratchet wheel. Then, if the slide bar 39 is moved forwardly, the pawls may be moved during each operation of the lever 36 either two or more tooth spaces of the ratchet wheel 27.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. l, I have shown a spreading cylinder 42 of ordinary construction, fixed to a cylinder shaft 43 provided with a sprocket wheel 44:. This sprocket wheel is engaged by the chain 29, which is held against its under surface by an adjustable idler 4:5. I have also provided for driving the spreading cylinder as follows: On the side of the wagon bed is a short shaft 51 having a sprocket wheel 52 fixed to it, and in engagement with the sprocket chain 29. Fixed to the same shaft 51 is a sprocket wheel 53, connected by a sprocket chain 54: with a sprocket wheel on the shaft 43 of the spreading cylinder.

In this way, the principle of the operation of the apron and the spreading cylinder are the same as before described herein, the extra sprocket gearing devices being simply provided for the purpose of accommodating themselves to the long spreading cylinder.

In practical use, it is obvious that the apron may be moved toward the rear of the wagon, without danger of the load binding upon the sides of the wagon bed. The speed of the apron relative to the advance of the Pivotally machine may be readily and easily'controlled by the lever 24, and if it is desired to throw the apron and the cylinder out of gear, this may be done by rearward movement of the lever 24. The changes in speed of the apron "will not afiect the movement of the spreading cylinder. Furthermore, the mechanism is all of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a deviceof the class described, a shaft, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, two spring actuated pawls in engage ment with the ratchet wheel, a lever fulcrumed between the pawls, and having a limited sliding connection with each pawl, a pitman pivoted to the sprocket wheel and to said lever, and means for driving the sprocket wheel.

2. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, two spring actuated pawls in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a lever fulcrumed between the pawls, and having a limited sliding connection with each pawl, a pitman pivoted to the sprocket wheel and to said lever, a bar arranged to limit the movement of the spring actuated pawls away from the ratchet wheel, and a lever for adjusting said bar.

3. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, two spring actuated pawls in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a lever fulcrumed between the pawls and having a limited sliding connection with each pawl, a pitman connected with said lever, and means for operating the pitman.

4. In a device of the class described, a shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, two spring actuated pawls in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a lever fulcrumed between the pawls and having a limited sliding connection with each pawl, a pitman connected with said lever, means for operating the pitman and an adjustable stop device for limiting the movement of the pawl away from the ratchet wheel. 7

Des Moines, Iowa, March 27th, 1908.

ROBERT SHEDENHELM.

\Vitnesses:

RALPH ORWIG, A. F. HAGUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. G. 

